Golf ball retriever



Jan. 14, 1964 w. D. WEBB GOLF BALL RETRIEVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.' 9. 1960 W/7l/Z7/77 D. Webb INVENTOR.

Jan. 14, 1964 w. D. WEBB GOLF BALL RETRIEVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1960 DWI/127m 0. Webb INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,117,814 corn BALL unrnmvnn William D. Webb, 4054 27m St, Tulsa, Okla. Filed Nov. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 68,249 4* Claims. (Cl. 294-19 The present invention generally relates to a golf ball retriever and more particularly the invention relates to such a retriever that is simple in construction, easy to use, efiicient when picking up golf balls and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Golfers quite often engage in practice sessions during which a plurality of golf balls are driven generally in the same pattern. After the practice session is over, it is then necessary for the golf balls to be picked up either by the golfer or other person. Picking up of golf balls is quite laborious since it requires that the person stoop over and pick the ball up from the ground surface. While there have been some devices previously constructed for the purposes of picking up golf balls from the ground surface, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a golf ball retriever capable of picking up a plurality of golf balls from the ground surface and temporarily storing the golf balls, while subsequent golf balls are being piciied up.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball retriever which eliminates the necessity of a person leaning over to pick up a golf ball since the present invention will pick up the golf ball by merely inserting the end of the golf ball retriever over top of the golf ball and exerting a slightly downward pressure.

A further important feature of the present invention is to provide a golf ball retriever having a novel bag structure connected thereto for receiving the golf ball together with the novel structure for permitting passage of the golf balls into the device but preventing exit thereof until the golf balls are discharged by the person using the device by opening the bag-like retainer.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGUR 1 is a perspective view of the golf ball retriever of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded group perspective view of the components of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view of the upper end of the tubular member illustrating the relationship thereof to the bag;

FEGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane along the center of the golf ball retriever;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower end of the golf ball retriever illustrating the golf balls therein;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 but illustrating the manner in which a golf ball is forced into the lower end of the tube.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral it? generally designates a golf ball retriever incorporating the features of the present invention therein which includes a golf ball bag generally designated by numeral 12 and a pick-up tube generally designated by the numeral 14.

The pick up tube 14 includes an elongated tubular member 16 constructed from a single sheet of resilient material such as sheet metal or the like which has overlapping edges 13. This enables the tube 16 to be decreased in over-all size but which will resiliently spring hillsid- Patented Jan. 14, 1934 ice back toward a larger diameter. The upper end of the tube 16 is connected to a generally L-shaped handle 2% by virtue of a pair of fasteners 24 extending through apertures 26 in the tube and through apertures 23 in the handle 20. This retains the handle 29 in position on the tube 16 and the handle 2% includes a hand-grip 30- on the free end thereof for facilitating the manipulation of the golf ball retriever.

The lower end of the tube 16 is provided with a cylindrical sleeve 32 thereon which has an inwardly and upwardly extending peripheral edge 34 generally forming a frusto-conical shape in the lower end of the sleeve 32 for generally centralizing the lower end of the sleeve 32 in relation to a golf ball 36 so that the golf ball 36 may enter the opening defined by the inner peripheral edge of the flange 34-. The opening for the golf ball is designated by numeral 3'7.

The bottom edge of the tube 3.6 is provided with inclined corner edges 38 which are overlapped in relation to each other thus defining substantially a if-shaped notch and the cap 32. will be held in place by the resiliency to the tube 16. The tube in is collapsed in diameter and then inserted into the sleeve 32 and permitted to expand thus locking the sleeve 32 to the tube 16.

For retaining the golf balls 35 within the tube 16, there is provided a retaining washer 4t? having a central opening 42 therein together with a plurality of radial slits 44 extending outwardly from the opening 42 toward the external edge of the washer 4%. The washer is preferably constructed of plastic material of a pliable nature which will readily admit the ball and will retain it firmly. The plastic construction also holds the ball higher which permits the next ball to be centered in the cone entrance more easily and further, plastic is less susceptible to water and weather damage. A single washer or a multiple of washers may be employed and, of course, the central opening is of less diameter than the golf ball 36 but the opening 37 in the fiwge 34- is substantially equal to but slightly larger than the golf ball 36. The washer 4% is held in place by an inwardly extending peripheral flange 46 on the lower end of the tube 16 which engages the upper surface of the washer 46 in opposition to the flange 34 thus securely retaining the washer in place. The flange 46 does not extend radially inwardly as far as the flange 34 thus providing for a higher degree of flexibility of the tongues defined by the slits e thereby enabling the golf balls to readily pass inwardly into the tube but preventing their egress.

ttached to the tube 16 and to the handle 2%} is the storage bag 12 which is constructed from a single plea of fabric material or fabric-like material designated by reference numeral 43. The lower end of the piece of material is provided with a relatively narrow projection 5t and the upper end thereof is provided with a similar narrow projection 52 defined by inclined edges 54 having a slide fastener assembly 56 thereon. The projection 52 is provided with a pair of apertures 58 therein for wrapping around the handle 2% and for receiving a retaining bolt 6-6 or the like which secures the upper projection 52 to the handle 2 The peripherm edges of the member 43 at the side edges of the projection 5t? are stitched togeti er by a line of stitching 62 thereby retaining the projection ends in encircling relation to the sleeve 32 enclosing the bag from the lower end of the slide fastener structure 56 to the sleeve 32.

The slider 64 of the slide fastener construction is disposed adjacent the handle Zli when the opening defined by the inclined edges 54 is closed. The edges 54 are disposed above the top edge of the tube 3:6 which is beveled as indicated by numeral 66 which cooperates with the lower notched end 68 of the handle 24 for permitting discharge of golf balls 36 from the top end of the tube is into the bag 12 for temporary storage therei Of course, the slide fastener assembly may or may not be closed since the golf balls 33 will fall downwardly into the bag when they are forced up over the top edge of the tube 16. When it is desired to remove the ball, the slider 64- is moved to an open position and the device inverted whereby the golf balls will roll out of the openin-g defined by the inclined edges 54. The flexibility of the bag 12 enables it to be wrapped around the tube when unoccupied by golf balls, thus reducing the space required for storage of the golf ball retriever.

in use of the device, it is carried by the hand-grip 39 one hand and the frnsto-conical flange 34- is placed over the golf ball 36 and a slight downward pressure forces the ball through the resilient plastic ring upwardly into the tube 1d. Each succeeding ball pushes the previous ball upwardly of the tube 15 until finally they fall into the bag 1;. for storage for use later or for dropping at a desired area for further practice. The pliable resilient w-sher is held in place when assembled by the cone flange and the flange on the lower end of the tube which is held in place by the spring pressure exerted by the lapped edges of the sheet metal tube 16.

The particular location of the bag is such that it is placed behind the tube to avoid obstruction of the view the ball when the lower end of the sleeve 32 is being placed over the ball. The slide fastener opening is located at the top of the bag making it unnecessary to zip the bag closed while the balls are being picked up. The present invention does not have any loose parts to rattle and will not roll around when carried in the car trunk. Also, the device is symmetrical and well balanced for ease of operation. Further, there are no springs to break or to damage the golf balls and any one part can be easily replaced without special tools. The construction of the bag lends itself readily to color schemes, patterns and various sizes to suit various needs.

The frusto-conical shape 34 is turned upwardly at about a 20 degree angle from horizontal. Flange 45 has substantially the same angle thus sealing the thin pliable washer 4 5 between flanges 34 and 46 and facing the washer into a frusto-conical shape. This causes tongues 44 to flare apart slightly thus requiring only slight deflection of tongues .4 when a ball is passing therethrough thus lengthening the useful life of the disc or washer 40 and making it extremely easy to capture the ball and retain it therein.

In applying the bag, it is applied wrongside out over handle 3%, tube 16 and partly over sleeve 32. Bag 43 is then turned right side out over tube 16 and attached to handle 3'0. This leaves projection 56 turned inside of bag 48 thus making hemming of projection 50 unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A golf ball retriever comprising an elongated tube, a handle attached to one end of the tube, means at the other end of the tube for receiving a golf ball therein and preventing exit of the golf ball from the tube, a discharge opemn g at the upper end of the tube, and a bag mounted on the tube in communication with the discharge opening for receiving golf balls from the tube, said means permitting entry of golf balls and preventing exit thereof including a pliable ring having a plurality of inwardly extending deflecta'ole tongues deflectable upwardl during passage of the golf ball through the opening defined by the inner ends of the tongues, rigid support means connected to said other end of the tube and extending under the radially outer portions of the tongues so as to permit smd tongues to flex into said tube while preventing the tongues from flexing outwardly of said tube, and a sleeve, said sleeve connected to said support means, said support means comprising an inwardly eaten ing and upwardly inclined flange on said sleeve forming a frusto-conical surface for centralizing the tube in relation to a golf ball, said ring being disposed against the inner edge of the flange on the sleeve, said tube having an inwardly extending flange overlying the ring for retaining the ring in place, the flange on the tube being of less dimension than the flange on the sleeve whereby the tongues may more readily be flexed inwardly of the tube rather than outwardly thereby perm ing entry of golf balls and preventing exit thereof, said tube being split longitudinally and constructed of resilient material with the edges of the tube overlapping whereby the sleeve is held in place on the tube by the resiliency of the tube.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle is attached to the upper end of the tube and is substantially in the form of an L-shaped member having a handgrip on one end thereof.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said bag is provided with an opening adjacent the upper end thereof, a slide closure fastener assembly connected with the edges of the opening for selectively closing the opening for retaining golf balls in the bag or permitting discharge thereof.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein th upper end of the bag is attached to the handle above the upper end of the tube, the upper end of the tube forming the discharge opening for dischanging golf balls into the bag as succeeding golf balls push the balls over the top of the tube, said bag having a lower tubular end encircling the sleeve with substantially the entire bag being disposed remwardly of the tube so that view of the golf balls will not be obstructed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,937,828- MacDonald Dec. 5, 1933 1,969,110 les May 22, 1934 2,203,170 MacDonald June 4, 1940 2,766,807 Watson Aug. 28, 1956 2,792,683 Sigler May 21, 1957 

1. A GOLF BALL RETRIEVER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBE, A HANDLE ATTACHED TO ONE END OF THE TUBE, MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE TUBE FOR RECEIVING A GOLF BALL THEREIN AND PREVENTING EXIT OF THE GOLF BALL FROM THE TUBE, A DISCHARGE OPENING AT THE UPPER END OF THE TUBE, AND A BAG MOUNTED ON THE TUBE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISCHARGE OPENING FOR RECEIVING GOLF BALLS FROM THE TUBE, SAID MEANS PERMITTING ENTRY OF GOLF BALLS AND PREVENTING EXIT THEREOF INCLUDING A PLIABLE RING HAVING A PLURALITY OF INWARDLY EXTENDING DEFLECTABLE TONGUES DEFLECTABLE UPWARDLY DURING PASSAGE OF THE GOLF BALL THROUGH THE OPENING DEFINED BY THE INNER ENDS OF THE TONGUES, RIGID SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID OTHER END OF THE TUBE AND EXTENDING UNDER THE RADIALLY OUTER PORTIONS OF THE TONGUES SO AS TO PERMIT SAID TONGUES TO FLEX INTO SAID TUBE WHILE PREVENTING THE TONGUES FROM FLEXING OUTWARDLY OF SAID TUBE, AND A SLEEVE, SAID SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING AND UPWARDLY INCLINED FLANGE ON SAID SLEEVE FORMING A FRUSTO-CONICAL SURFACE FOR CENTRALIZING THE TUBE IN RELA- 